Wet-Africa Partners Workshop - Johannesburg Zoo Jane Goodall Environmental Institute 7-8 June 2010

This two day meeting was held at the Jane Goodall Centre at the Johannesburg Zoo Environmental Centre on June 7th and 8th. The event was well attended by diverse supporters of Wet-Africa and the SOUL foundation including environmentalists, activists, media specialists, a group of Graduate students from the University of California in Berkeley, government representatives and scientists.

The first day of the meeting was led by Kim Kieser, founder of SOUL Foundation / Wet-Africa. Following the welcome, Kim provided an overview of the Wet-Africa program and the Mission and Vision of the Wet-Africa, followed by addresses given by Dr Anthony Turton and Paul Fairall on the state and future of South Africa's river systems and in particular the threat caused by acid mine drainage and on-going problems with thoughtless development. Together the scientist and the activist painted a bleak future scenario for the waterways with a host of threats ranging from increasing levels of feminisation in the population due to oestrogens in the water, the impact of pollution downstream all the way into the Indian Ocean, declining biodiversity among others.

Following the presentations, Wet-Africa Partners participated in a planning process that provides feedback into the Wet-Africa system, particularly around the organisation's Goals, Vision, Roles, Rules, Values, Style, Stories and Resources. The exercise based on the Isivivane model provides insight and understanding into the 'big picture' and also allows input, discussion and knowledge sharing among participants.